estate tax Free Articles
Intentionally Defective Beneficiary Trusts
This article discusses the planning opportunities with an intentionally defective beneficiary trust.
Read MorePartial Interest Valuation
Partial interest valuation values the ownership of a portion of a property, limited partnership, general partnership, corporation, LLC or LLP. Partial interest valuation is more complex than most valuation problems and requires intense analysis and seasoned judgment.
Read MoreWhat's the Best Way to Pay a Business Owner's Estate Taxes?
A critical element to business succession planning is making certain the business owner’s estate will have the cash to pay estate taxes without having to sell the business. This article will examine the advantages and disadvantages of four such commonly used techniques – IRC Section 6166, IRC Section 303, Graegin loans, and life insurance.
Read MoreThe New Portability and Disclaimer Trusts
The Tax Relief Act of 2010 provides for a $5 million exemption (indexed for inflation in 2012) per person from federal estate and gift taxes, and a top tax rate of 35%. In addition, the unused portion of the estate tax exemption of the first spouse to die may be transferred to the surviving spouse (so-called “portability”).
Read MoreUnderstanding Florida Real Estate Taxes with Florida’s Amendment 1
Trying to determine your Florida real estate taxes is like trying to determine if you qualify for an IRS tax break, near impossible. If you're trying to understand Florida property taxes this article explains everything you want to know, but were afraid to ask, including information on Florida's New Amendment 1 passed by voters on January 9, 2008. So whether you’re a new Florida resident wondering what a homestead exemption is, or a longtime resident trying to figure out how much Save Our Homes benefit you can take with you to your new home, it's covered in this article.
Read MoreTop 10 Uses of Life Insurance in a Non-Taxable Estate
With the estate tax exemption likely to be fixed at $3.5 million, fewer and fewer decedents will have taxable estates. This article addresses how life insurance can still play an important role in non-taxable estates.
Read MoreSpousal Lifetime Access Trusts
Learn how a spousal lifetime access trust (“SLAT”), a specially-designed irrevocable life insurance trust, allows the grantor-insured “indirect” access to the policy’s cash value.
Read MoreDisclaimer Trusts
With fewer married couples having taxable estates, learn how a disclaimer trust may provide greater flexibility over the typical “reduced-to-zero” marital deduction formula.
Read MoreAvoiding the Three Year Life Insurance Transfer Rule
This article explains how to avoid IRC Section 2035, which brings life insurance policies transferred within three years of death, back into the insured’s gross estate.
Read MoreTop 10 Uses of Life Insurance in a Family Business Succession Plan
Most family business owners want to keep the family business in the family. This article addresses how life insurance plays an important role in business succession planning.
Read MoreTax Strategies for the Wealthy: Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT)
Wealth management is an important issue for those with substantial assets to protect. Many people incorrectly assume that their estates will escape federal estate tax as a result of underestimating what their principal residence will be worth when they die. Often, our homes are our most valuable assets. The Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) provides a means for significantly reducing the estate tax consequences of the family home and one vacation home. The QPRT also provides an excellent asset protection vehicle since you no longer own the property once the trust is established.
Read MoreInstallment Sales to Grantor Trusts
An installment sale to a “grantor trust” can provide valuable income, gift and estate tax benefits. If the assets sold produce a total return (income and appreciation) in excess of the interest rate on the note, substantial wealth can be removed from the seller’s gross estate – gift and estate tax free.
Read MoreHow to HEET up an Estate Plan
Affluent individuals who want to secure their descendants' education and health care; who have otherwise exhausted their GST exemption; and who have an interest in charity should examine the many uses and benefits of a HEET.
Read MorePrivate Annuities and Self-Canceling Installment Notes
Private annuities and self-canceling installment notes (“SCINs”), while similar in many respects, have their advantages and disadvantages when compared. Following is a brief description of private annuities and SCINs.
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